Tag: Juan Thornhill

2023 NFL free agency: Ranking 5 defensive back options for the Seahawks

With that in mind, here are five free agent DB options for the Seahawks to consider this year.

Seahawks coach Pete Carroll might be the planet’s premiere DB guru, or at least he’s right up there with Bill Belichick and John Harbaugh in their ability to find and develop quality talent on the back end. Seattle’s secondary is in strong shape heading into 2023. In Quandre Diggs and Jamal Adams they have one of the league’s top starting safety combos plus a superb backup in Ryan Neal. They also have the most-talented young cornerback in the sport in Tariq Woolen, setting a strong foundation for the future.

However, this group isn’t a finished product just yet. With that in mind, here are five free agent DB options for the Seahawks to consider this year.

Pair of Chiefs players had a little too much fun at Super Bowl parade

#Chiefs S Juan Thornhill and CB Jaylen Watson revealed they had a bit too much fun during the Super Bowl LVII parade.

In the words of Tucker D. Franklin, the vibes were high and the beer was flowing at the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl champions parade on Wednesday.

Thankfully, there were no major events or incidents, involving fans, players or otherwise, but there was plenty of consumption going on. Patrick Mahomes alluded to this before the parade and rally even got started.

And for some members of this Chiefs team, it certainly was a long day. That includes veteran S Juan Thornhill, who gave this phenomenal interview to KSHB-TV’s Aaron Ladd during the course of the parade route:

He made sure to let Chiefs Kingdom know that he was doing alright this morning and that he may have got a bit carried away during the parade on Wednesday.

Thornhill, however, has been there and done that before. He’s a two-time Super Bowl champion. For one of the Chiefs’ rookie defensive backs, well, let’s just say he made a rookie mistake regarding his consumption at the Super Bowl parade.

Jaylen Watson apparently needed a bit of assistance and I’m not too sure how much of the parade and rally he’ll be remembering. It’s commonplace for fans to throw beers and mini-shooters to the players during the parade route and it seems that Watson didn’t know how to deny Chiefs fans during the moment.

Watson fought for his right to party, and party he did. As did most everyone in attendance, including the Kansas City police officer assisting Watson in this photo.

Check it out:

@kansascitypolice

The Fun is Contagious #kansascitychiefs #superbowlparade #kansascitypolice #dance #fun

♬ 24K Magic – Bruno Mars

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Chiefs S Justin Reid says he, Juan Thornhill and Bryan Cook form ‘three-headed snake’

#Chiefs S Justin Reid describes the on-field relationship with safeties Juan Thornhill and Bryan Cook as a ‘three-headed snake.’ | from @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs defense has taken great strides over the past few weeks, helping the team to secure the top seed in the AFC. The success in the secondary has been evident with the increase in takeaways and the slowing down of the opposing teams’ top receivers.

In his first season in Kansas City, Justin Reid is a vocal leader for the unit and has often praised his rookie teammates. The Chiefs’ veteran safety continues to develop a solid bond with the rest of the secondary as they have built the swagger needed for the postseason run.

Reid discussed his on-field relationship with fellow safeties Juan Thornhill and Bryan Cook during Monday’s press conference.

“Yeah, (we have) complete confidence in each other,” said Reid. “We’re the three-headed snake. (We’re) all very smart players. (We) understand route concepts, understand (the) defense. Juan (Thornhill) has been here going into his fourth year, but Bryan Cook and myself, can all play both roles. Bryan will come in and sometimes be in Juan’s role, he’ll sometimes be in my role. Throughout training camp, he even took some of dime reps, too. So, we’re confident in him being wherever he needs to be. And like I said, as experience and the reps under the belt have started to accumulate, you’re starting to see that value start to turn out on the football field. And it’s a good time for that to happen.”

The trio has complemented each other well, flipping safety roles on various defensive packages. The confidence building amongst them has become contagious as players aren’t married to one specific position and are utilized for the best chances of success. Players are playing for each other and not just the stat sheets, which has been a motivation through the winning streak. They’ll look to keep that chemistry at a high point as the team awaits their divisional-round opponent during the bye week.

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Here’s what Chiefs S Juan Thornhill saw from Raiders QB Jarrett Stidham in Week 17

The #Raiders debuted a new quarterback last week. This is what #Chiefs S Juan Thornhill says he saw from Jarrett Stidham:

For the last 17 games they’ve played against the Kansas City Chiefs, Derek Carr has been the starting quarterback for the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders. That won’t be the case when Week 18 kicks off on Saturday as the Raiders have opted to start QB Jarrett Stidham in the final two games of the season.

In Week 17, Stidham and the Raiders’ offense took the San Francisco 49ers’ top-ranked defense by surprise. Stidham completed 67.6% of his passes for 365 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. What was especially impressive is that he was good with the deep ball and didn’t take any unnecessary sacks.

It was about as good of a performance as you could ask for from a backup quarterback. He helped take the game into overtime and gave Las Vegas a chance to win the game. They came up short in the end, but Stidham put the league on notice.

What exactly did the Chiefs gather from that performance against the 49ers? Veteran safety Juan Thornhill felt that he proved to be poised and talented.

“I mean, he’s a really good quarterback,” Thornhill said. “We see him as a gunslinger. The guy (Raiders QB Jarrett Stidham), he’s super confident — you would think that since he’s a backup he’d come in and be a little shaky, but I watched the game last week and he stepped up and played a heck of a game. I think he played one of the best games they have had all season. I think he can control it (and) he can move the ball, and we just have to focus in and show up to play because the Raiders are a good team.”

One benefit that the Chiefs have heading into Week 18 that the 49ers didn’t have the weak prior is a full game’s worth of tape to study. Rest assured that Steve Spagnuolo will have his guys honed in on the game film in order to find some weaknesses in Stidham’s game that they can exploit.

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Chiefs players reflect on Damar Hamlin injury: ‘I think it impacts everybody’

#Chiefs players spoke for the first time since Damar Hamlin’s injury, sharing their thoughts on how it impacts them and others around the league.

How do you understand something that up until Monday night seemed unfathomable? That’s what Kansas City Chiefs players are grappling with right now.

When Buffalo Bills S Damar Hamlin collapsed after what appeared to be a routine play during Monday night’s game between the Bills and Bengals, it shook the football world to its very core. Teammates and coaches stood by and watched as a member of the Bills training staff performed CPR. An ambulance took him from the field to UC Medical Center in Cincinnati, where Hamlin’s condition is improving.

Speaking to the media for the first time on Wednesday, several Chiefs players were asked about how witnessing Hamlin’s injury affected them. Patrick Mahomes was the first to provide an answer.

“I think it affects everyone in this league in a way where it really puts things in perspective,” Mahomes said. “We go out there every week and I’m not going to say we take it for granted, but you go out there and you play a game that you love, and you just enjoy it. You don’t think about things like that happening and whenever things like this happen, I think it impacts everybody. I mean, obviously, my prayers are with Damar (Hamlin) and his family, the Buffalo Bills, the Bengals (and) everybody that was in attendance at the game. It sent chills down my body when I was watching it and all I did was just sit there and pray for him because that’s all you can do when you feel like you can’t help.”

Juan Thornhill, who plays the same position as Hamlin, felt it could just as easily be him or another one of his football brethren in that position.

“It’s really scary,” Thornhill said. “Seeing things like that happen on the football field, knowing that we play the same exact sport as him – I mean it’s a contact sport. It’s scary because it can affect us. It can be us that’s in this same exact situation, so all I can do right now is just pray for Damar (Hamlin) and hope that he gets better and hope that it doesn’t happen anymore this season.”

Marquez Valdes-Scantling took Hamlin’s injury particularly hard — feeling that people take for granted how often players put their well-being on the line.

“Obviously, we all play this game and we put our lives on the line and to see one of our football brothers – in this fraternity of football – go down like that and (almost) lose his life, it’s hard,” Valdes-Scantling said. “We put our lives on the line every single play and a lot of people take that for granted. It’s tough to see (and) it’s tough to sleep at night because that could’ve been any one of us. It could’ve been myself (or) any one of those guys in the locker room and I think every football player around the country felt that.”

There has been an outpouring of support and prayer for Hamlin from across the league. The Chiefs held a prayer with their team chaplain on Tuesday and lit up Arrowhead Stadium with Bills blue and Hamlin’s No. 3 jersey number on Wednesday. Teams and players are doing what they can from afar as they prepare as best they can for Week 18 with continued prayer for Hamlin’s swift recovery and well-being.

“Like I said, I’ve been watching updates just like everybody and try to make sure that first off Damar is healthy, and he can get back,” Mahomes said. “Because at the end of the day, we’re people, not just players, and I think everybody understands that even more now.”

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Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo has confidence in rookie S Bryan Cook

#Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo says he has a lot of confidence in rookie S Bryan Cook, who could see more action in Week 12 with Juan Thornhill dealing with a calf injury. | from @EdEastonJr

The 2022 NFL draft is proving to be a vital component of the Kansas City Chiefs season. Each of the team’s selections in April has played a meaningful role this year as veteran players have been sidelined with injuries or suspensions.

The Chiefs’ secondary has been shuffled with various combinations at defensive back, especially after trading Rashad Fenton at the deadline. Rookies Jaylen Watson, Joshua Williams and Trent McDuffie have played significant time, and last Sunday night, it was safety Bryan Cook’s time to contribute.

Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo spoke with reporters on Tuesday, praising Cook’s performance in relief of an injured Juan Thornhill.

“Yeah, listen, Bryan’s (Cook) has been one of my favorites since the beginning,” said Spagnuolo. “I told him way back in training camp that I’d like to have more guys like him. He’s a — I’ve said this before ¯ he’s a cerebral player — and I love those kinds of guys. In the position he plays, you need that. He’s smart on the backend. He’s a communicator. I think after a week of practice where he’s getting all the reps, I think he’ll be even smoother. He was a little bit rusty (he) had to knock the rust off in the game this past week. But, we have a lot of confidence in him.”

Cook finished Week 11 with three tackles and was active in coverage, disrupting routes and making reads harder for Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert. He was in on the Keenan Allen forced fumble with Nick Bolton. He also had a key tackle against Austin Ekeler in the red zone, which helped hold Los Angeles to a field goal ahead of halftime. He was a bit late on Josh Palmer’s long touchdown reception, which is likely the rust that Steve Spagnuolo is speaking of.

Thornhill exited Sunday’s victory in L.A. with a strained left calf. His status for this upcoming Sunday hasn’t yet been determined, but it sounds like Spagnuolo is expecting him to be out of practice. The exceptional effort from Cook in Week 11 could have the coaching staff err on the side of caution when it comes to Thronhill’s recovery.

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Chiefs HC Andy Reid provides injury updates after win over Chargers

#Chiefs HC Andy Reid gave injury updates on RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, WR Kadarius Toney, S Juan Thornhill and CB Jaylen Watson after the win over the #Chargers.

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The Kansas City Chiefs dealt with a number of injuries during the Week 11 game against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Speaking to reporters after the game, Chiefs HC Andy Reid gave the rundown of the players who are hurt and what they’re dealing with.

“As far as the injuries go, Clyde (Edwards-Helaire) has a high ankle sprain,” Reid began. “Kadarius Toney hamstring tightened up on him. Juan Thornhill’s left calf, he strained (it). Then, Jaylen Watson, hurt his hand. We’ll see where that goes from here.”

Of all the injuries, it appears that Edwards-Helaire’s is the most serious. He’s dealing with the dreaded high ankle sprain, the second of his NFL career. He was limping quite a bit when he left the field and headed to the locker room. Reid didn’t seem too optimistic about the injury.

“Yeah, I mean he’s a tough kid, but that doesn’t look good,” Reid said. “High ankle sprains in running backs aren’t always the best. We’ll see how he does in his recovery here, but he’s pretty tender right now.”

Asked whether he feels like Edwards-Helaire will go on injured reserve, he responded, “I haven’t got that far.”

High ankle sprains typically carry a 3-4 week recovery period. That likely means that free agent signing Ronald Jones, who has yet to be made active for a game so far this season, will see his first action with the Chiefs in Week 12.

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Chiefs S Juan Thornhill raising money for Virginia football shooting victims

Juan Thornhill is raising money for UVA shooting victims by raffling off his game-worn tribute cleats, a signed game-worn jersey and #Chiefs playoff tickets.

Kansas City Chiefs S Juan Thornhill revealed earlier this week that he’d be wearing custom cleats to honor three University of Virginia football players who died in a senseless shooting last Sunday. Thornhill, a UVA alum, is now going a step above to help raise money for the families of the players.

On Sunday afternoon, Thornhill took to Twitter to share that he’s hosting a fundraising raffle, featuring game-worn items and playoff tickets as prizes. Here is all the information:

“On Sunday, November 13th, 2022, tragedy struck the Charlottesville community when three young, outstanding men lost their lives.Three UVA football players, Larnel Davis Jr. (True Junior), D’Sean Perry (Redshirt Junior) & Devin Chandler (True Junior), tragically lost their lives. Two others were seriously injured in the incident.

I have started this giveaway to raise money for the victims’ families to help cover the cost of each of their funerals and alleviate other expenses the families are enduring.

As a UVA football alumnus and friend of the victims, this touches home for me as it does for so many across the nation. All donations from this campaign will go directly to each of the victim’s families to help alleviate any expenses due to the tragedy.

As a thank you for the donations, I would like to enter every donor into a giveaway for the following:

   1) Game-worn tribute cleats, as pictured above

   2) Signed Juan Thornhill game-worn jersey

   3) Two (2) tickets to a Chiefs playoff game this postseason

Every $20 donated to this cause will give the donor one (1) ticket for the drawing. For instance, a $100 donation will equate to 5 raffle tickets.

The giveaway drawing will happen on Wednesday, November 23rd, 2022, and the winner will be chosen randomly.

Thank everyone for contributing to this cause that will fully support families in a time of need & grieving.”

You can make your donation and enter the raffle here.

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Chiefs S Juan Thornhill to wear cleats paying tribute to slain UVA football players

#Chiefs S Juan Thornhill is celebrating the lives of UVA’s Lavel Davis Jr., D’Sean Perry and Devin Chandler by wearing custom cleats on Sunday night.

Kansas City Chiefs S Juan Thornhill will be wearing custom cleats to honor the memory of three slain UVA football players on “Sunday Night Football” against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 11.

Virginia football is mourning the loss of three players — Lavel Davis Jr., D’Sean Perry and Devin Chandler — who were shot Sunday night after returning from a field trip. Another player, Mack Hollins, was wounded after attempting to help his teammates. He remains hospitalized, but in stable condition. A fifth student was wounded in the shooting and is said to be in good condition.

Thornhill, a Virginia native and former second-round draft pick out of the University of Virginia, shared a photo of the custom cleats on Twitter on Wednesday.

“1.15.41 wearing these Sunday to celebrate you 3,” Thornhill wrote. 

The customized cleats feature UVA colors and the jersey numbers of Davis, Perry and Chandler in various designs on either side. It has their first names emblazoned on the backside of the cleat as well.

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Chiefs Juan Thornhill’s cleats to honor 3 slain Virginia players

Juan Thornhill of the Chiefs will honor the 3 slain Virginia players

Kansas City Chiefs DB Juan Thornhill is honoring the memory of the three University of Virginia players who were killed Sunday.

Thornhill, who played college football at Virginia, posted on social media the cleats that he will wear Sunday when the Chiefs play the Los Angeles Chargers.

The tragic incident resulted in the deaths of three members of the UVA team – Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr., and D’Sean Perry. Another player Mike Hollins was wounded. A fifth student was also wounded.